Thursday, January 16, 2014

Cortaditos {With A Stove Top Espresso Maker}

Cortadito, is a Cuban espresso topped with steamed milk. It's by far my new favorite way to drink espresso! Sweet, creamy and full of flavor.

Here's what you'll need:

Stove top espresso maker

French coffee press

2-3 tablespoons Cuban espresso {Italian is fine too...I won't tell}

4 tablespoons white sugar

1 cup evaporated milk

Directions:

Makes 4

1. Prepare your espresso maker according to the manufacturers directions. The amount of grounds used will be specific to your individual pots. Most require 2-3 tablespoons of espresso grounds. Fill the bottom container with water {just below the pressure valve} and then spoon your espresso into the metal filter. Gently smooth the grounds with the back of a spoon. Screw the top back on and place on the stove. Wait for espresso to peculate.

2. Scoop 4 Tbs. of white sugar into a cup. Pour a few drops of hot espresso into the sugar and vigorously mix. This will result in a creamy, light brown paste. Add the remaining espresso to the paste and stir, creating a light brown layer of foam.

^^^

*This is the cheaters way of simulating crema with a stove top espresso maker...not all of us can afford fancy pressurized machines, right? This is the next best thing.

3. Pour your sweet espresso in to tiny cups {fill halfway}.

4. Pour 1 cup of evaporated milk into a microwavable cup. Heat for 30 seconds or until hot. Then pour it into a French press. Pump the filter on the French press a few times to force oxygen into the milk, this will make it thick and frothy -- perfect for fine foam.

*If you don't own a French press, you can stir the milk with a whisk and tap the cup on the counter to get rid of any large bubbles.

5. Pour the hot evaporated milk over the espresso and top with a pinch of cinnamon.

Beware. They are extremely addictive. I may have had 4 in one morning... Maybe I should just make them in a bigger cup? Ehh? No?